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UNirian Srarss PATENT @rrics.

JAMES P. HYDE, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC SIPHON.

'JPECEFECATEQZG "orming part of Letters Patent No. 307,951, dated November 11, 1884-.

Application tiled November 522, 1862i.

To all whom it may 007LC87'IZ.

Be it known that I, JAMES P. HYDE, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Siphons, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of ref erence marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of siphon which are charged automatically at regular intervals to produce the quick discharge of a flushingtank so soon as it becomes filled by means of the constant flow ofa small stream into the same. I

It consists in the combination,with the trap of a trapped siphon, of an auxiliary siphon adapted to be started by a comparatively small overflow from the main siphon, and thereby produce an exhaust in the downtake leg thereof suificient to bring said main siphon into complete action.

In the construction of my apparatus the discharging-leg of the siphon is provided with a water-trap adapted to completely seal the same. To this trap is fitteda small auxiliary siphon adapted to be automatically started so soon as the trap is filled by the overflow thereinto through the larger-siphon of the stream by which the tank is filled. The rapid discharge of the trap by means of this small auxiliary siphon operates to so far disturb the equilibrium of the water-column in theuptake leg of the larger tank siphon by the sudden release of the column of air confined therein and the suction created thereon as to cause a sufficiently full, quick flow of water over its bend to start said larger siphon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the combined siphons and the tank to be discharged thereby. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View of a modification in the construction of the auxiliary siphon by which the tank-siphon is brought into action.

In simple form my improved apparatus con sists of a straight discharge pipe, A, led through the bottom of a suitable tank, B,with a water-tight joint. The tank B is fed by a supply-pipe, D, preferably ofj a smaller capacity than the pipe A, and which is con- (No model.)

trolled by a cock to permit of the regulation of the infiowing supply-stream. The open end of the pipe A is carried up nearly to the highwater level desired in the tank, and is inclosed by a cap or cover, E, preferably cylindrical or slightly conical in 'i'orm,which is so supported or so notched at its lower edge as to leave a free passage, 6, for the entrance of water under the same at the bottom of the tank. An air-space, e, is formed under the cover E over the open end of the pipe, the concentric cover serving in fact as the shorter or uptake leg of a siphon of which the pipe A constitutes the longer leg.

Instead of using a concentric cover, E, to form the siphon, it may be constructed by simply bending over the end of the pipe A.

At a suitable point below the tank B, and, preferably, as near to it as possible, the pipe A is trapped by means of a concentric cup, F, within which the lower end of the pipe terminates, said cup being itself inclosed within a chamber, G, forming a tight joint with and connection between the pipe A above and the pipe A below, so that the latter becomes in fact an extension or continuation of the siphonpipe' A. The area of each of the annular spaces between the sides of the cup F and the pipe A within and the concentric wall of the chamber G without it is made to exceed that of said pipe, so as to permit a full,free passage for the liquid discharged from the pipe A down into the pipe A. A small tube, H, led from within the end ofthe pipe A down through the bottom of the cup or trap 1*, with a tight joint to project centrally a short distance into the pipe A, is converted into a concentric siphon by means of a cap, K, so fitted over its upper end as to leave an open space between the two at the top and sides. The upper end of the tube 11 of this small siphon terminates just below the level of the rim of the trap F, and the lower'edge of the cap K, by which the shorterleg ot' the siphonis determined,is made to terminate just above the end of the pipe A, so that the action of the siphon may be stopped by an admission of air from the pipe A while the trap is still charged.

In operation the tank B is filled gradually by a small stream of water admitted from the supply-pipe at D. As the water-level rises in the tank it will also rise under the capE Within the shorter or intake leg of the siphon EA until reaching the upper end of the pipe A it will overflow. The overflow passing down through the pipe A will soon fill the cup or trap F, and in doing so will, so soon as the trap becomes sealed, confine and partially compress the column of air caught in the pipe A. After the first action of the siphon the trap at F will remain full of water and thereby sealed in view of the fact that theaction of the small siphon will be arrested by the admission of air thereto from the pipe A before it has emptied the trap. So soon as the level of the water rising simultaneously in the cup F and under the cap K of the siphon K H has reached the top of the tube H it will so nearly fill said tube as that in overflowing through it it will quickly exhaust the air from the bend of the siphon over the top of the tube, and thereby charge and start the small siphon K H. The action of this siphon will operate by its sudden discharge of the water in the trap F to create a suction upon the column of air confined in the pipe A sufficient to produce a quick overflow of water at the upper end of said pipe, sufiicient to start the siphon E A, and thus produce an automatic discharge of the tank 13, and this automatic discharge will recur so long as the supply-stream continues to flow into the tank.

A modification of the apparatus is obtained by placing the top edge of the cup or vessel F to be discharged by the small auxiliary siphon K H wholly below the lower end of the pipe A, and fitting within said cup F a float carrying upon its upper end a second cup adapted to receive and encircle the end of the pipe and form a trap for the same when uplifted by the filling of the cup F.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the cup F is illustrated as of a cylindrical form, fitted within a cylindrical chamber, G, and provided with a small concentric siphon, H, fitted for its discharge.

Vithin the cup F is fitted an annular float, M, encircling the siphon, and whose sides are carried up to support a cup, N, whose edges,

when the cup F is empty, will rest upon the top edge of the latter at such a height as to encircle the lower end of the pipe A, the depth of said cup N being such as to admit of its rising about the pipe to cause its immersion therein to a considerable extent, and it will thus be lifted about the pipe A by the action of the float M asthe cupF gradually fills. Apertures P, pierced in the edge of the upper cup, N, will allow an overflow therefrom into the lower cup, F.

In operation, as the water overflowing from the upper tank, B, through the siphon-pipe A fills the upper cup, N, it will overflow therefrom into the cup F, and as it gradually fills the same will cause the float M to rise and carry the cup N upward over the lower end of the pipe A until the water, reaching the bend or overflow-level of the siphon H, will charge the same and bring itimo action. The action of the siphon H, by causing a rapid fall of the sealing-cup N, will produce thereby asuction in the pipe A sufficient to bring the main siphon E A into action to discharge the tank 13.

The certainty of action of the siphon A E may be promoted by placing an auxiliary cap, R, over the upper end of the pipe A, within the cap or cover E, to form an auxiliary air space or chamber in the bend of the siphon, wherein a body of air may be compressed as the water rises in the intake of the siphon, its longer leg or downtake being trapped below, as hereinbefore described. I

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the sealing-chamber in the trap of a trapped siphon, of a small auxiliary siphon, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence (if two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES P. HYDE.

\Vitnesses:

G. H. SPENCER, G. M. VVooDcooK. 

